Salisbury, MD-Two young children turned a playful evening into a dangerous situation on Delaware Avenue in Salisbury, Maryland. At approximately 11:52 PM on July 7, 2024, local authorities were alerted to a vehicle fire, with the flames engulfing a Volkswagen Passenger Car owned by a resident of the property.

A passerby was the first to discover the damaging fire, which originated from the vehicle's exterior. According to reports, a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old were playing with fire and set a piece of nearby furniture ablaze. The fire rapidly spread to a vehicle parked near the burning furniture.

The Salisbury Fire Department, the primary responders, took ten minutes to control the blaze. Rushing to the scene with four firefighters, they successfully controlled the fire, preventing any further damage.

Unfortunately, the vehicle was estimated to have suffered a substantial loss of $50,000.

The incident resulted in a juvenile, a 9-year-old, suffering from smoke inhalation. The child was immediately transported to Tidal Health for medical evaluation and care.

The authorities have not released any additional information about the child's condition at this time.

Reflecting on the incident, local authorities have urged the community to provide greater education about fire safety to children and to keep all flammable materials out of reach.

As per the latest update, juvenile referrals are currently pending, revealing the dire consequences when children are left unsupervised with dangerous materials.

In this wake of this unfortunate incident, it is a stark reminder to every parent and guardian about the importance of educating children regarding fire safety and vigilantly securing all hazardous materials to prevent such occurrences.